Forgetting about laundry mid-cycle is a common household frustration that leads to damp, mildewy clothes or unnecessary rewashing. While smart appliances offer notifications, most washers and dryers in homes and laundromats lack these features, creating a widespread need for a simpler solution.

Sound-Based Laundry Monitoring

One approach could leverage smartphones' microphones to detect when laundry finishes. When starting a load, users would open an app and place their phone safely near the machine. The app would listen for distinctive end-of-cycle sounds - like alert chimes or mechanical clicks - using audio pattern recognition. Unlike manual timer apps, this would detect actual completion rather than estimated times. Unlike smart appliances or add-on sensors, it would require no new hardware purchases beyond the user's existing phone.

The system might face two key challenges: distinguishing completion sounds from background noise (solved through machine learning that improves with more user data) and varying sound patterns across machine brands (addressed by building a comprehensive sound library). An MVP could start with basic detection for common machines before expanding capabilities.

Practical Applications and Advantages

This solution could particularly benefit:

• Busy families managing multiple loads
• Laundromat customers without visual access to machines
• Elderly individuals who may forget running loads

Compared to existing options, this approach offers unique advantages:

• Works with existing machines (no smart appliance needed)
• Requires no additional hardware purchases
• Adapts to different machine types through learning

Potential Development Path

Initial development could focus on core sound recognition for common residential machines. As the user base grows, features might expand to include:

- Multi-machine tracking for laundromats
- Estimated time remaining predictions
- Premium features like custom alerts or usage statistics

Monetization could come from a freemium model with ads in the basic version and subscription options for advanced features. For unusually quiet machines, optional Bluetooth sensors could be offered as add-ons while keeping the core functionality hardware-free.

By turning any smartphone into a laundry monitor, this approach could solve a widespread daily annoyance without requiring appliance upgrades or additional gadgets.